'I Didn't Make a Mistake': Trump Declines to Apologize for Racist Video of Obamas

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: New York Times

‘I Didn’t Make a Mistake’: Trump Declines to Apologize for Racist Video of Obamas

The video clip that President Trump posted in a late-night flurry of social media activity caused an unusually strong and public outcry from members of his own party.


The decision to delete the link from his Truth Social account was an unusual walk-back by President Trump. Kenny Holston/The New York Times

By Erica L. GreenIsabella Kwai and Zolan Kanno-Youngs
Erica L. Green and Zolan Kanno-Youngs reported from Washington, and Isabella Kwai from London.

Feb. 6, 2026
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President Trump posted a blatantly racist video clip portraying former President Barack Obama and the former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, but he insisted he had nothing to apologize for even after he deleted the video following an outcry.

The clip, set to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” was spliced near the end of a 62-second video that promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and was among a flurry of links posted by Mr. Trump late Thursday night. It was the latest in a pattern by Mr. Trump of promoting offensive imagery and slurs about Black Americans and others.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Friday, Mr. Trump said he only saw the beginning of the video. “I just looked at the first part, it was about voter fraud in some place, Georgia,” Mr. Trump said. “I didn’t see the whole thing.”

He then tried to deflect blame, suggesting he had given the link to someone else to post. “I gave it to the people, generally they’d look at the whole thing but I guess somebody didn’t,” he told reporters. ... Still, Mr. Trump offered no contrition when pressed. “No, I didn’t make a mistake,” he said.

{snip}

Reporting was contributed by Tyler Pager, Dylan Freedman, Robert Jimison and Katie Rogers from Washington.

Erica L. Green is a White House correspondent for The Times, covering President Trump and his administration.

Isabella Kwai is a Times reporter based in London, covering breaking news and other trends.

Zolan Kanno-Youngs is a White House correspondent for The Times, covering President Trump and his administration.

A version of this article appears in print on Feb. 7, 2026, Section A, Page 1 of the New York edition with the headline: Trump Posts, Then Erases, Racist Video of Obamas. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/us/politics/trump-obamas-video-apes-truth-social.html

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https://www.nytimes.com/es/2026/02/06/espanol/estados-unidos/trump-obama-video-racista.html

https://www.nytimes.com/by/erica-l-green
https://www.nytimes.com/by/isabella-kwai
https://www.nytimes.com/by/zolan-kanno-youngs

[evemac]

1. Trait of a narcissist

No apologies for their behavior.
Such garbage.

[raccoon]

2. Yep. The MF never apologizes for anything.

[BigmanPigman]

3. Trait of a sadistic psychopath too.

He wants to keep this new "distraction" alive so we forget whatshisname...EPSTEIN, EPSTEIN, EPSTEIN!!!!!

We can expect new distractions several times a week. Do NOT fall for it. I am an idiot and almost did earlier today. Bad, bad me!!!!!

[Irish_Dem]

5. He is a narcissistic psychopath, and they never apologies for their wrong doing.

They love the crimes they commit.
They are proud of it.

[rubbersole]

4. Well, he didn't "make a mistake".

donnie being honest. That's rare for that racist classless piece of shit. We'll celebrate your demise.
PS - Thanks for causing America to get booed at the Olympics.

[livetohike]

6. Not a mistake. He meant to do it. He doesn't see

anything wrong with it either. Anything he can do to demean the past Presidents he will do. He thinks it makes him look good. In reality, he looks like a loser.

[Aviation Pro]

7. Just use the n-word already

You motherfucking pedophile.

[tavernier]

8. Methinks there are some very interesting pig pictures

being created as we speak. Quiet Piggy might be sorry he didn’t squeal his way out of it.